s an ugly one; yet even to Larry's inexperienced eye it
did not look as if it could be fatal, and the boy breathed a long sigh
of relief as he bound it up. Then he went in search of water, and
finding a well back of the warehouse brought a bucketful in and began
to bathe Luke. Soon the sufferer stirred and opened his honest eyes
wonderingly.

"Why--er--how's this?" he stammered. "Did I--oh, I remember now!" And
he sank back again.

"Keep quiet," whispered the boy. He had heard voices coming toward the
warehouse. "If you make a sound, it may be all up with both of us."

The old tar breathed heavily and nodded. Throwing some sacking over
the prostrate form, Larry slipped back into the main apartment of the
warehouse. He still held the gun, but it was empty and could be used
only as a club.

Two men were approaching the warehouse, both tall, slim, and evidently
of Spanish extraction. They were talking loudly and excitedly to one
another; but as Larry understood but few words of Spanish, what they
were saying was lost upon the boy.

"I don't believe they are after us," thought the lad, when the
strangers came to a halt just outside the warehouse. As they did so a
long volley of rifle shots came from a distance, followed by another
and then another. The shooting came from the centre of the town and
made Larry's heart beat fast. "Our soldiers must be coming in," he
thought. "Oh, I hope they make the town ours!"

The shots appeared to disturb the two Spaniards greatly, for both
clutched each other by the arm and looked thoroughly frightened.

Presently an old woman came running out of one of the huts. She yelled
at the two Spaniards in her own tongue and pointed at the warehouse.
Evidently she had seen Larry and Luke, but had been afraid to expose
herself.

The strangers listened to the old woman with interest, then began to
talk to each other. "Perhaps we can get some information, Jose," said
one, in Spanish.

"Perhaps we shall get a bullet," answered his companion, grimly.
Nevertheless, he consented to enter the building, and both passed
through the great doorway of the warehouse.

Hardly knowing how to receive the newcomers, Larry stepped for a
moment behind a bin of rice. But then, as the pair moved toward where
Luke lay, he raised his gun threateningly.

"Halt!" he called, as sternly as he could. "Halt, or I shall fire!"

"We are betrayed!" roared one of the Spaniards, in his native tongue.
"No shoot! no s